Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Taliesin52 10-21-05, 01:35 PM	A few months ago my character was killed mercilessly by an assassin, and I had to make a new character. At that time, our party was having a problem getting through combat. Our warrior types were not front line types, and the only healing we had was from wands and potions. To compensate, I put together a Master of many forms (Monk/Druid/MMF) who had some casting for healing, and was able to hit hard. Unfortunately, that was all of the thought I put into it - filling a critically needed role in the party. Now, I'm stuck with a character that, while fun and powerful, isn't very deep. Our DM is a great DM, and he does a good job of working character's backgrounds and goals into his plots. Unfortunately, I can't come up with a decent background or any discernable goals for my character. This is all I really have at the moment: 1) During the war, I was a spy (monk) for Aundair sent to the break away region of the Eldeen Reaches. Whilst doing my spying, I came into contact with the ruler of the Reaches, an awakened great pine tree/druid named Oalian. 2) For some reason I decide that Oalian's way was the truth path. I set about training as a druid. 3) After the war, the Reaches don't really have relations with the outside world. I'm trained as a MMF to aid in disguise, and sent out to see what's going on and to work towards the betterment of the Reaches. 4) I passed into Droaam to begin my work. There I came into contact with some trolls (a common creature often used by the corrupt government as a soldier). From that point on, I used troll as my primary form when wild shaping (I've since moved on to the cave troll). 5) I do something.... for a year or so, and move on to Breyland (for some reason), heading for Sharn. Shortly after arriving (no more than a week), I come into contact with the party and join them in their quest. 6) The campaign is focused loosely around some magical planar-oriented bells. Bad guys want them, we want to get them before they do to prevent..... bad stuff (we don't know yet). This is taking us on a tour of Eberron. 7) We've been in various parts of the dead continent of the giants, fulfilling this goal. Along the way we made an enemy of the Lords of Dust. That's all I have. I don't really have any motivations for why I made the moves that I did in my past, and no discernable goals for the future, aside from completing the campaign objective. I'm pretty much at a loss as to filling in my background and comming up with short to medium term goals. Can anyone help me flesh this out?
erbmjw 10-22-05, 12:01 AM	"During the war, I was a spy (monk) for Aundair" Well you and likely your family were obviously great nationalists because you entered one of the most damgerous jobs an individual can have during wartime. I don't really see your charcter as an adventure junkie so not it was not done for the "excitement" of being a spy. Any family members still alive? You still on good terms with them? You still on good terms with your head monk/monastary? If not why not? You still on good terms with your military superiors/buddies? If not, why not? Well if you can answer the questions I asked then we can work on his part "5) I do something.... for a year or so, and move on to Breyland (for some reason), heading for Sharn. Shortly after arriving (no more than a week), I come into contact with the party and join them in their quest." Woud you rather it be a 'I had to leave' or 'I wanted to leave' reason? Because a broken heart is a 'I wanted to leave' reason - and it doesn't mean that you hate one another or that she is dead - just that you wanted to leave - it also allows the GM some hooks into your character ;) So the young woman in Droaam that you have fallen in love a has made a binding vow to wait for x years for her bethored but everyone - including her -though he was dead - because his entire unit was reported as wiped out in a major battle near the end of the war. Since she is so good and because they made a religous vow to wait for x years she is honouring it .... suprise X months before the timeline ends he reappears - sucks to be you! Can you tell us a bit more about your character? lawful neutral? neutral good? skills, feat etc?
erbmjw 10-22-05, 12:06 AM	D'oh fat fingers
Taliesin52 10-22-05, 02:18 AM	THanks for the reply! "During the war, I was a spy (monk) for Aundair" Well you and likely your family were obviously great nationalists because you entered one of the most damgerous jobs an individual can have during wartime. I don't really see your charcter as an adventure junkie so not it was not done for the "excitement" of being a spy. Any family members still alive? You still on good terms with them? Sure they're alive. However, as I abandoned them and my homeland to work for a giant talking tree, I'm probably not on good terms with them, especially if they're nationalists. Further, with my being gone and not returning to Aundair since the Last War, I probably haven't had any contact with them. A sister or brother who's a bit less of a fanatic may be a possibility. I think of it less as a monestary in the traditional sense and more in the sense of advanced martial arts training. While training to be a spy, that's what I excelled in, so it's reflected in a single level of monk (my first level). As I'm likely seen as a traitor (even though I didn't act against Aundair, I just joined up with the break away region), my relations with the spy school or spy organization is likely poor at best. [quote]You still on good terms with your military superiors/buddies? If not, why not? Hmm.... Superiors... Definitely not.... Any compatriots I may have had likely aren't very fond of me, although there may be one or two who don't see my semi-defection as the end of our relations. Well if you can answer the questions I asked then we can work on his part There ya go. "5) I do something.... for a year or so, and move on to Breyland (for some reason), heading for Sharn. Shortly after arriving (no more than a week), I come into contact with the party and join them in their quest." Woud you rather it be a 'I had to leave' or 'I wanted to leave' reason? Hmm... Not sure... Because a broken heart is a 'I wanted to leave' reason - and it doesn't mean that you hate one another or that she is dead - just that you wanted to leave - it also allows the GM some hooks into your character ;) Interesting ideas... I'd be open to having a former flame for the GM to use. A combination of wanted-to and had-to may be an option. Plus, there is an option for an... unconventional former flame. I'm not sure if you're familiar with Eberron, so a couple things: Droaam is run by a trio of hags from hell, they have a few illithids (also from hell) and at least one (fire) giant who rule local areas. Their military consists mostly of ogres, trolls, weaker giants, and a few tamed aberrations. There are humans, but just as many demihumans/humanoids living there. Further, the Eldeen Reaches (where I became a druid and started working for Oalian) is full of orcs. These orcs are an ancient civilization, and unbeknownst to much of the world, they saved the world from destruction in the past. They are nature loving and somewhat wise. I likely am friends with a few from there. Finally, I am a Master of Many Forms. This would include ogre, troll, and any humanoid/monsterous humanoid form, or animal form. So any flame could concievably be from one of those categories (although I'd like to avoid explaining that sure... the brown bear was my girlfriend and all... but she's awakened see, so it's ok! :p). So the young woman in Droaam that you have fallen in love a has made a binding vow to wait for x years for her bethored but everyone - including her -though he was dead - because his entire unit was reported as wiped out in a major battle near the end of the war. Since she is so good and because they made a religous vow to wait for x years she is honouring it .... suprise X months before the timeline ends he reappears - sucks to be you! Hmm... An interesting idea. However, my chances of returning to the region or seeing her are slim. She (and he) would have to at the very least move to Sharn (the super-metropolis), where I may eventually return. Can you tell us a bit more about your character? lawful neutral? neutral good? skills, feat etc? Sure... Monk1/Druid5/MMF2 when I met the party (levels taken in that order). Now, I'm Mnk1/Dru5/MMF7, and about to switch to Nature's Warrior for a bit. Alignment is Lawful-Neutral. As a spy it was because I followed all Aundairan laws and worked towards the betterment of the crown, but Neutral as I was more than willing to dirty my hands if it was for the greater good of Aundair. As a druid? Neutral because there should be balance in the universe, as nature is balanced, and Lawful because contrary to what most people think, nature is not some wild uncontrolled force. It is quite orderly, everything follows it's cycle, and there are very basic but intrinsic rules that govern what everything in nature does. Hmmm, what else? I stick to humanoid shapes for the most part, troll and now cave troll. They are closer to nature than the city dwelling forms of most humanoids, but unlike an animal, the hands, feet, and opposable thumbs allows me to retain my martial arts training. Troll was especially useful in Droaam, as I drew less attention to myself, and was able to have more of a rapport with the Droaamish (Droaamite? Droaamvish?) military. I do use animal forms (particularly dinosaurs, which are common in Eberron) when necessary - disguise, speed, tracking abilities, flight, etc... but otherwise avoid them. I'm ambivalent towards arcane magic. I know it exists, I use some of the equipment available from it. However, I believe it is a tool of the intelligent races. Magebred animals (magically treated through the breeding process to create better stock) are something I'm not a big fan of. Our ranger has one as a follower that he has since awakened. While I don't hold it against the animal for being bred that way (it didn't really have a say in the matter), I'm hardly friends with it. That's all I can think of for now.
erbmjw 10-22-05, 09:36 AM	As you and the GM know more about both Eberron and the campaign I think that you two should agree on the race of both your flame and her betrothed. I do think that an intelligent medium sized humanoid would work best as your flame. ****** There is a very good chance that they ( she and he ) would have to come to you, but that would be up to your GM. If he was hailed as a returning hero then he might even be sent to Sharn as a representative of some semi-important element in Droaam. As for how a captured prisoner of a slaughtered unit can be a hero - the unit did not surrender and they held the {hill/fort/pass} long enough for a greater force from Droaam to set up further back and stop the attackers in their tracks. He is a returning hero and his family didn't like you being around his bethored now that he has returned. It was 'suggested' by a signifigant Droaamisn individual/group that you leave Droaam post-haste :) A senior military officer would be a good person to make the suggestion - if he was your friend it could even have been to help you before you got your throat cut/etc. [ I like the military officer/friend helping you out angle because that gives the GM another hook into you ;) ] ***** So after your first year as a spy you realized that Nature was more important and long term than a mere nation -- good call As you still love your family { though many of them may be unhappy with your past choices ) it is possible for the GM to use that as a hook. So quick questions on family - how many, ages, sexes, mini-backgrounds, etc? - by the way you might find that a family member who has a signifigant nature connection ( ie an expert farmer/herbalist) would be at least willing to communicate with you. It has been at least a few years and the war is over there could be a chance for greater reconcilliation with other family members ie more hooks ;) especially when you 'have' to ask for their aid :-S **** A list of skills would be useful :) *** I will work on the former military connections later